Chapter 241 - The Shattering of Chains (1/2)

The fight in the Arena below was just as brutal and bloody as always. The only difference this time seemed to be that Lord Revierre had learned his lesson from last time. He had not thrown mere Guards into the Arena to challenge the Reapers, no he'd quite clearly done more than that. While Ebony could only speculate, she'd bet that he'd hired them for a good price to avenge his past humiliation.

The challengers were skilled enough that Ebony worried for the Reapers below. Though she knew she shouldn't have. The only challenge that those warriors faced recently was against each other.

Ebony moved around the Master's rooms quietly and smoothly, pouring wine into cups and providing snacks for the patrons as they shouted, jeered and laughed at the entertainment on display below them. She could not help the thought that crossed her mind. That she doubted they would be so happy should they have been the ones down there. In fact, they likely would have begged for mercy. Those who had never felt the hardship, had never had to decide between their life and the life of another likely had no idea how it felt. Ebony wasn't even positive that she understood. She had never had to kill anybody directly, but she'd certainly been a accessory to such things on more than one occasion. She wasn't entirely sure if it had bothered her or not.

Ebony looked up, noticing Neva's eyes as they glanced over her and the other girls. Ebony knew that this time if someone took an interest, she wouldn't be able to avoid them, nor would anyone step in. The Madame, who sat beside the Master, looked the same as always. Like she was living a life of luxury where she ruled over all, a glass of wine held in her hand as she watched the bloody fight below. She gave no indication of her allegiance, nor if she was ready to go through with the plan. It made Ebony tense.

Ebony happened to walk near the railing, glancing down to see Aegin's situation. He was doing well, but he was fighting off three men at once, and all three seemed to be quite adept. Aegin ducked and doged as best he could, but Ebony witnessed the moment he slipped into a different style. The style he'd told her he'd never use in the Arena. The Havoi Style.

He went from wildly defending to having the attacks pass by him like they weren't even aimed at him to begin with. One warrior went down, then the second, and finally the third before Aegin spun and threw a dagger at one of those fighting Talo.

Lord Revierre stood, ”What is this, Slave Master?”

The Slave Master merely smiled like he'd just earned a mountain of gold as he looked at Aegin.

”It appears we weren't pushing their potential nearly hard enough,” the Slave Master mused, ”I should thank you for doing so, Revierre”.

Ebony's eyes narrowed at the words as she shifted to go back to serving. It would not matter in the next few minutes, at least she hoped it wouldn't.

Her jug ran out and she turned to go and refill it, her eyes catching a look from Lord Revierre as she did. Ebony swore under her breath. She'd managed a fortnight avoiding his attention, why now?

She went into the serving hall as another slave exited, eyes filled with warning at what followed Ebony. Ebony took in a deep breath. She could do this. She wouldn't break. She was not a belonging. She could not be forced. She would not freeze again.